Stretch

The limousine is a luxury car, typically with a lengthened wheelbase, driven by a chauffeur. The chassis may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called “stretch” limousines and are traditionally black or white. As a very expensive form of automotive transportation, limousines are culturally associated with wealth or power and are commonly cited as examples of conspicuous consumption. Perhaps the most culturally iconic limousine was the original Pullman 600, launched by Mercedes-Benz at the Frankfurt auto show in 1963. It was over 6 metres long and had a top speed of 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph).

It gained notoriety as a ‘dictator ship’ because it proved so popular with autocrats including Uganda’s Idi Amin, Romania’s Nicolae Ceaucescu and Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito.

Because of the connotations of status associated with the vehicle, limousines are often hired for special events – most commonly weddings, proms and hen parties.

‘Stretch’ is an elongated table that is both a visual and symbolic reference to a limousine. By using different flags, it playfully represents two ideologically opposed models of identity. North Korea’s human rights record could be perceived as the epitome of inequality, while the act of marriage is the culturally accepted symbol of equality.

The car parts on the table – the door handles and spark plug – intentionally mimic those found in small-scale model kits. This adds another veneer of representation (simulacra), therefore a model of a model. They are created utilising a similar plastic process, complete with visible mould lines. The sealed end of the exhaust further emphasises the non-functioning, purely visual nature of models.